MLAK (Karlee Mackie)Always the artist, was “ born with crayons in her hands “ so to speak. Herfearlessness in self expression has been shown throughout her formative years. Always painting andexpressing her ideas through words and imagery from a very young age.Karlee was Australia’s first female professional free surfer turned artist based in Byron Bay NSW. Theartist approaches painting organically, adapting and evolving to create work that plays with motif inspace.

Dynamic, youthful and fun, MLAK translates across scale, articulating in an original voice.MLAK has had the opportunity to assist the extremely talented Angus McDonald, an Australian contemporary visual artist, refugee advocate, columnist, and documentary filmmaker. He continuesto be a mentor to her, for her career and life.Surfing all around the world, she started to paint her fellow athletes’ surfboards on the worldqualifying tour, which led to collaborating with International brands.Her first trip to NYC to film a surf film for the Brand Globe, was one that marked the beginning of thenotion, you can create a life being an Artist.A naive 20 yr old, MLAK was luckily exposed to a life changing situation, when she was recommendedto watch the 1996 Indy film by Julian Schnabel “ Basquiat “ on the artist Jean Michel Basquiat, asthe next day they planned to catch the train to Rockaway Beach to surf with Julian and his sonVito Schnabel, Thom Sachs and Pat Conlon. Jamie Brisick an American writer, photographer, andfilmmaker and then wife Gisela Mata a filmmaker opened her mind to a whole new dream.

Theexperience of meeting Julian, watching the film and seeing Damien Hurst show, downtown Chelseawas enough to ignite a fire within.MLAK’s talent is versatile and recognised. In addition to her visual artworks, she has lent her skills tointernational brands and notable families alike.Invited by some of the world’s best-known surf brands to collaborate on their labels ( Rusty, Globe,Electric ). MLAK has illustrated Wedding stationery for Sam + Bellie Branson ( Richard Branson’sson ) The wedding book invitation was also featured in HELLO magazine. Designed a personalisedChristmas card for Natalie Imbruglia, sold artworks to Christian Wilkins, son of Richard Wilkins.Through MLAK, Karlee works to explore a new level of her identity, taking inspiration from the worldthat surrounds her to create pieces which evoke real feelings of connection, yet also challenges theviewers’ sensibilities to help them dive deeper into themselves.Her artwork is so dynamic it translates easily being quite chameleon-like, shape shifting to adapt toany space, like her personality